"Check Engine" Light

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 20, 2004 | 12:22 AM

landfish

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 8

Likes: 0

"Check Engine" Light

Just bought a used (47,500 miles) 1998 F150 4.6L Triton 4x4. Not more than 24 hours later the check engine light came on. Any suggestions? The dealership ( used car lot, not Ford dealer) said it can wait for few days until their mechanic checks it on Monday. Can it wait? I did have to drive for long trip and it runs fine?

Thanks

Landfish

Feb 20, 2004 | 12:53 AM

Racerguy

Hotshot

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 12,679

Likes: 15

From: BC, Canada

Hi Landfish and welcome to FTE

When the check engine light is on it means that the trucks's PCM (computer) has seen a sensor or output reading that it doesn't like. Usually it's safe to drive but the gas mileage and performance might not be as good as it should be.
To get the light out (for a while anyway) you can remove a battery terminal for 10 minutes and that will clear the light until the PCM sees the problem again.
If you dont want to wait until Monday you can probably get a local Autozone to scan it for you for free and then post the code here and someone will have an idea what's wrong. If you get it scanned write down the code number, not just the description.

Feb 20, 2004 | 10:21 AM

landfish

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 8

Likes: 0

Thanks a bunch for the info. When I bought it, it had to be smogged per Calif and they could get it to pass but " smog sensors" were not getting reset because it had sat too long, dead battery, on the car lot. They attempted the reset by driving it for 20 minutes, let it cool, drive it again. All but one "smog" sensor reset. So they told me to drive it on my trip and the out and back drive should reset the last sensor. I have will have it smogged on Monday. Could this be it?

Thanks again.

Landfish

Feb 20, 2004 | 02:13 PM

projectSHO89

Hotshot

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 19,760

Likes: 1,079

From: St Louis

It's going to fail come Monday.

Get the codes read so you don't have to guess.

Steve

Feb 20, 2004 | 10:27 PM

landfish

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 8

Likes: 0

Yeah I copy that, I was mostly worried about its drivability right now. Another F350 4x4 Deisel in the family has had the engine light on/off for 2 years and Ford dealership can't figure it out. Hasn't affected the opertation of it. Thanks for the help. I will stop at an Autozone on Sunday. I am currently out in the sticks so no Autozone.

Landfish